2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS-Class Owner's Manual

Useful information
..............................40
Panic alarm .......................................... 40
Occupant safety .................................. 40
Children in the vehicle ........................60
Driving safet ysystems ....................... 66
Thef tdeterrent locking system .........73 39Safety

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please not ethat your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related system sand functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: (Y page 26).Panic alarm
X
To activate: press000Dbutton 001Afor at
least one second.
An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting
flashes.
X To deactivate: press000Dbutton 001A
again.
or
X Insert the SmartKey int othe ignition lock.
or
X Press the KEYLESS-GO Start/Stop button.
The KEYLESS-GO key must be in the
vehicle. Occupant safety
Important safet
ynotes G
WARNING
Modifications to the restraint system scould
result in them not functioning properly any
more. The restraint system scould then no
longer protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do and could fail in the even tof
an acciden toractivat eunexpectedly, for
example. Ther eisanincreased risk of injury.
Never modify part softherestraint systems.
Do no tattemp ttomodify the wiring as well as
electronic components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify an air bag system
to accommodat eaperson with disabilities,
contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz center.
USA only: for further information contact our
Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1800-367-6372).
In this section ,you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.
The restraint system consist sof:
R Seat belts
R Child restraint systems
R LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat securing
system
Additional protection is provided by:
R SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
R NECK-PRO head restraints/NECK-PRO
luxury head restraints
R PRE-SAFE ®
R Air bag system components with:
-PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
- Front-passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
The different air bag systems work
independently of each other. The protective
functions of the system work in conjunction
with each other. Not all air bags are deployed
in an accident. 40
Occupant safetySafety

i
For information on infants and children
traveling with yo uinthe vehicle as well as
restraint systems for infants and children,
see "Childre ninthe vehicle"
(Y page 60). SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Introduction RS consistso
f:
R The 0012 RS warning lamp
R Air bags
R The air bag control unit with crash sensors
R Emergency Tensioning Device for the front
seat belts and the outer seat belts in the
rear
R Seat belt force limiters for the front seat
belts and the outer seat belts in the rear
RS reduces the risk of occupants coming into
contact with the vehicle's interior in the event
of an accident. It can also reduce the effect
of the forces to which occupants are
subjected during an accident.
SRS warning lamp G
WARNING
If SRS is malfunctioning, child restraint
system components may be triggered
unintentionally or might not be triggered at all
in the event of an accident with ahigh rate of
vehicle deceleration. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Have SRS checked and repaired immediately
at aq ualified specialist workshop.
SRS functions are checked regularly when
you switch on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions
can be detected in good time.
The 0012 SRS warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than afew seconds
after the engine is started. The SRS components are in operational
readiness when the
0012SRS indicator lamp
goes out while the engine is running.
There is amalfunction if:
R the 0012 SRS warning lamp does not light
up when the ignition is switched on
R the engine is running and the 0012SRS
warning lamp does not go out after afew
seconds
R the engine is running and the 0012SRS
warning lamp lights up again.
Safety guidelines for seat belts,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bags G
WARNING
R Damaged seat belts or seat belts that have
been subjected to stress in an accident
must be replaced. Their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
R Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) contain
perchlorate material, which may require
special handling and regard for the
environment. Check your national disposal
guidelines. California residents, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Perchlorate/index.cfm.
R Air bags and ETDs are designed to function
on aone-time-only basis. An air bag or ETD
that has deployed must be replaced. PRE-
SAFE ®
has electrically operated reversible
belt tensionersina ddition to the
pyrotechnic ETDs.
R Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
R Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat belts.
R Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In acrash they may
not be able to provide adequate protection. Occupant safety
41Safety
Z

R
No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
R Do not change or remove any component
or part of the SRS.
R Do not install additional trim material ,seat
covers, badges, etc. to the:
- padded steering wheel boss
- knee bag covers
- front-passenger air bag cover
- outer side of front seat bolsters
- side trim next to the rear seat backrest
- roof lining trim
R Do not install additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring.
R Keep area between air bags and occupants
free of objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).
R Do not hang items such as coat hangers
from the coat hooks or handles over the
door. These items may be thrown around in
the vehicle and cause head and other
injuries when the window curtain air bag is
deployed.
R Air bag system components willbeh ot after
an air bag has inflated. Do not touch them.
R Never place yourf eet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
R Improper repairw ork on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefor eonly be
performed by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be
followed. These instructions are available from any authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious
injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz
strongly recommends that you inform the
subsequent owner that the vehicle is
equipped with SRS. Also, refer them to the
applicabl esection in the Operator's Manual. Air bags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you modify the air bag covers or affix objects
such as stickers to them, the air bags may not
function correctly. There is an increased risk
of injury.
Never modify the air bag covers or affix
object stothem. G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restric tor
even preven tdeployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protec tvehicle occupant sas
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat cover sthat have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz. G
WARNING
The air bag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. There is arisk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have the
deployed air bags replaced at aqualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible. 42
Occupant safetySafety

G
WARNING
Air bagsa re designed to reduce the incidence
of injurie sand fatalities in certain situations:
R frontal impacts (driver's and front-
passenger front air bagsa nd knee bags)
R side impacts (sid eimpact air bags, window
curtai nair bags and pelvis air bags)
R rollover (window curtain air bags)
However, no system available today can
completely eliminate injuries and fatalities.
When the air bags are deployed, asmall
amount of powder is released .The powder
generally does not constitute ahealth hazard
and does not indicate that there is afire in the
vehicle. In order to prevent potential
breathing difficulties, you should leave the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot get
out of the vehicle after the air bag inflates,
then get fresh air by opening awindow or
door. G
WARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision, you must always be in the normal
seat position with your back against the
backrest. Fasten your seat belt and make sure
that it is correctly positioned on your body. As the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force,
aproper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you at asafe
distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
not wearing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be
seriously injured or killed by an air bag, as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in ap osition that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R move the driver's seat as far back as
possible, still permittingp roper operation
of vehicle controls. The distance from the
center of the driver's chest to the center of
the air bag cover on the steering wheel
must be at least 10 inches (25 cm). You
should be able to accomplish this by
adjusting the seat and steering wheel. If
you have any difficulties, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
R do not lean your head or chest close to the
steerin gwheel or dashboard.
R only hold the steerin gwheel on the outside.
Placing hands and arms inside the rim can
increase the risk and potential severit yof
hand/arm injury if the driver fron tair bag
inflates.
R adjust the front-passenger seat as far back
as possible from the dashboard when the
seat is occupied.
R occupants, especially children ,should
never place their bodies or lean their heads
in the area of the door where the side
impact air bag inflates .This could result in
serious or fatal injuries should the side
impact air bag be deployed. Always sit as
upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized
infant restraint,t oddler restraint or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child.
Failure to follow these instructions can result
in severe injuries to you or other occupants. Occupant safety
43Safety
Z

If you sell yourv
ehicle, it is important that you
make the buyer aware of this safety
information .Besure to give the buyer this
Operator's Manual.
If the air bags are deployed, you will hear a
bang, and asmall amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard and does not indicat ethat there
is af ire in the vehicle. The dust might cause
some temporary breathin gdifficulty for
people with asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, you may wish to get out
of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
You can also open the window to allow fresh
air to enter the vehicle interior. The 0012SRS
warning lamp lights up.
The air bag installation location sare
identified by the AIR BAG symbol.
The air bags are deployed if the air bag control
unit detects the need for deployment. Only in
the event of such asituation will the air bags
provide their supplemental protection.
If the driver and fron tpassenger do no twear
their seat belts, it is not possible for the air
bags to provide their supplemental
protection.
In the event of other types of impacts and
impacts below air bag deployment
thresholds, the air bags will not deploy. The
driver and passenger will then be protected
to the extent possible by aproperly fastened
seat belt. Aproperl yfastened seat beltisa lso
needed to provide the best possible
protection in arollover.
Air bags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, asubstitute for seat belts.
All vehicle occupants must fasten their seat
belts regardless of whether your vehicle is
equipped with air bags or not.
It is important for your safety and that of your
passenger to have deployed air bags replaced
and to have any malfunctioning air bags
repaired. This will help to make sure the air
bags continue to perform their protective function for the vehicle occupants in the
event of
acrash.
i After an air bag has been deployed, have
the vehicle towed to the nearest qualified
specialist workshop, even if your vehicle is
ready to drive.
Front air bags Driver's air bag
001Adeploysinf ront of the
steering wheel; front-passenger front air
bag 0010deploysinf ront of and above the glove
box.
The front air bags increase protection for the
driver's and front passenger's head and
chest.
They are deployed:
R at the start of an accident with ahigh rate
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a
longitudinal direction
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if the system determines that air bag
deployment can offer additional protection
to that provided by the seat belt
R depending on whether the seat belt is being
used
R independently of other air bags in the
vehicle
If the vehicle rolls over, the front air bags are
generally not deployed.
Your vehicle has adaptive, two-stage front air
bags. The air bag control unit evaluates
vehicle deceleration or acceleration in the
event of acollision. In the first deployment
stage, the front air bag is filled with part of the 44
Occupant safetySafety

tota
lavailable propellant gas, thereby
reducing the risk of injury .Ifthe ai rbag
control uni trecognize swithi naf ew
milliseconds tha tthe vehicle is being braked
or accelerated faster than originally
predicted, the front air bag is filled with the
maximum amount of propellant gas available.
The deployment of the front-passenger front
air bag is also influenced by the weight
category of the front passenger, which is
determined by the Occupant Classification
System (OCS) (Y page 47).
The lighter the passenger-side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
(predicted at the start of the impact) for
second-stage inflation of the front-passenger
front air bag. In the second stage, the front
air bags are inflated with the maximum
amount of propellant gas available.
The front air bags are not deployed in
situations where alow impact severity is
predicted. You will then be protected by the
fastened seat belt.
The front-passenger front air bag will only
deploy if:
R the system, based on the OCS weight
sensor readings, detectst hat the front-
passenger seat is occupied
R the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator
lamp on the center console is not lit
(Y page 47)
R the air bag control unit predicts ahigh
impact severity
Knee bags Driver's knee bag
001Adeploysu nderneath the
steering column and front-passenger knee
bag 0010underneath the glove box. They
deploy together with the front air bags. They
are designed to operate together with the
front air bags in frontal impacts if certain
thresholds are exceeded. The knee bags
operate at best in conjunction with correctly
positioned and fastened seat belts.
Knee bags provide increased protection for
the driver and front passenger against the risk
of:
R knee injuries
R thigh injuries
R lower leg injuries
Side impact air bags G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or
even prevent deployment of the air bags
integrated into the seats. Consequently, the
air bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the
function of the air bag deactivation system
could be restricted. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz. G
WARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located in
the doors. Modifications or work not
performed correctly to the doors or door
paneling, as well as damaged doors, can lead
to the function of the sensors being impaired.
The air bags might therefore not function
properly any more. Consequently, the air bags
cannot protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. There is an increased risk of
injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door
paneling carried out at aqualified specialist
workshop. Occupant safety
45Safety Z

You should only use seat cover that have been
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz.
The seat covers must have aspecial tear
seam for side impact air bags. Otherwise, the
side impact air bags cannot deploy correctly
and therefore cannot provide the intended
protection in the even tofanaccident. Front side impact air bags
001Aand rear side
impact air bags 0010deploy nex ttothe outer
seat cushions.
When deployed, the side impact air bags offer
additional protection for the thorax of the
vehicle occupant sonthe side of the vehicle
on which the impact occurs. However, they
do not protec tthe:
R head
R neck
R arms
The side impact air bags are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with ahigh rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or
acceleration, e.g. in aside impact
R independently of the use of the seat belt
R independently of the front air bags
R independently of the ETDs
If the vehicle rolls over ,the side impact air
bags are generally not deployed. Side impact
air bags are deployed if the system detects
high vehicle deceleration or acceleration in a
lateral direction and determines that side
impact air bag deploymen tcan offer
additional protection to that provide dbythe
seat belt. Sid
eimpac tair bags will not deploy in side
impacts which do not exceed the system's
prese tdeployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration .You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side is not deployed in the
following situations:
R OCS has detected that the front-passenger
seat is unoccupied.
R the front-passenger seat belt is not
fastened.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side will deploy if the front-
passenger seat belt is fastened, regardless of
whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
or not.
Pelvis air bags G
WARNING
Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle model. Using seat covers or other seat
coverings can cause amalfunction of the side
impact air bags and/or the pelvis air bags.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for availability. Pelvis air bags
001Aenhanc ethe level of
protection of the vehicle occupant sonthe
side of the vehicle on which the impact
occurs. 46
Occupant safetySafety